Join us this Sunday at 10:15AM in person or online
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Dear friends in Christ,
What are bishops for?
As Episcopalians, our very identity as Christians is bound up in the office of bishop. “Episcopal” means nothing more than “of a bishop or bishops,” from the Greek word episkopos, meaning “overseer.” This is why the full legal name of the church to which we all belong is the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America: we are a Protestant church that has bishops. This was the name adopted in the 1780s, when being described as “Anglican,” or any other reference to the English church and king, would not have been the thing to do.
The Prayer Book service for the ordination of a bishop states that a bishop “is called to be one with the apostles in proclaiming Christ's resurrection and interpreting the Gospel, and to testify to Christ's sovereignty as Lord of lords and King of kings.” A bishop is called to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the church, to celebrate and provide for the administration of the sacraments, to ordain priests and deacons and join in ordaining bishops, and to be a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the whole church. The 1886 General Convention identified the historic episcopate as an inherent part of the sacred deposit of Christian faith and order committed by Christ and his apostles to the church until the end of the world.
Bishops therefore serve as a guarantor of orthodoxy and unity of the Episcopal Church and indeed of episcopal churches throughout the world. Bishops are charged with guarding the “faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). When we hear the phrase “apostolic succession,” it refers not only to the physical connection that joins one bishop to his or her ordaining bishops; it also denotes the transmission of authority down generations of bishops, which contemporary bishops inherit from the apostles and martyrs and ultimately from Christ himself.
A bishop is also the chief pastor of a diocese, the one person who bears ultimate responsibility for the welfare of the clergy and people. In the Prayer Book of the Church of Ireland, when instituting a rector into a parish, the bishop says, “the care of God’s people in this parish is entrusted to you and to me within the body of Christ.” The spiritual authority of parish priests is devolved from the bishop, whose own authority is devolved from our Lord.
The alternative to episcopal governance, as we know well in New England, is presbyterianism or congregationalism in its various forms. The ideal of congregational self-determination can be appealing, but with it comes intellectual self-determination, which has led many a congregation toward worshiping gods of their own creation and away from Jesus Christ.
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It is perhaps ironic, given New England’s congregational history, that the first bishop ordained for the American church after the American Revolution was Samuel Seabury, the first bishop of Connecticut. Since 1784, there have been fifteen bishops of Connecticut, and Jeffrey Mello will become the sixteenth when Bishop Douglas retires in October 2022.
It is a big responsibility that Fr. Mello will assume when he is ordained and consecrated bishop in October. I hope that you will remember him in your prayers, and pray that he will joyfully bear the duties of his office.
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Yours faithfully in Christ, |
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Pentecost Picnic: Sunday, June 5 |
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Mark your calendars! Following the 10:15 am service on the Day of Pentecost, we will gather for an all-parish picnic in the garden. The parish will provide hamburgers, hotdogs, and buns; sides and desserts will be pot-luck. If you would contribute a dish to the picnic, see or contact Olive Grant to confirm.
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Save the date: A Garden Party, Saturday, July 23 ~ 3-6 pm |
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The St. John’s Women’s Group will be hosting a Garden Party on the great lawn this year, in lieu of their annual High Tea. Please mark your calendars, and don’t miss this fantastic event. Tickets are $30 general admission and $20 for seniors. Please see Olive Grant on Sunday morning, or contact the Parish Office during the week to purchase. |
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Prayers and Financial Support for Ukraine |
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The crisis in Ukraine continues, and our prayers are with not only those on the front lines and in the peace talks, but also if not especially with the millions who have been displaced. Episcopal Relief & Development will provide cash, blankets, hygiene supplies, and other needed assistance to Ukrainian refugees. If you feel moved to contribute to these humanitarian relief efforts, please do give via ERD’s website: https://support.episcopalrelief.org/ukraineresponse.
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A funeral liturgy for the late Dianne Bedingfield Saunders will take place Friday, June 17, at 11:00 a.m., in the church. Your prayers and presence are requested. |
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Tuesday Afternoon Bible Study |
During the summer months, Tuesday Bible study will take place on the last Tuesday of every month. Discussion will focus on a passage of Scripture or a book. The regular weekly schedule will resume on the first Tuesday after Labor Day. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
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Open Thursdays and Saturdays: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
The Community Thrift Shop welcomes new, almost new, and gently used clothing, home goods, and jewelry donations. All proceeds from the Thrift Shop are donated to nonprofit charities serving those in need. Please note: Starting in June, the Thrift Shop will be open every Thursday 10:00-3:00 and the first and third Saturday of each month from 10:00-3:00.
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Recent Prayer Requests for Healing of Body, Mind and Spirit. |
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Please keep these persons in your daily prayers:
Ben, Carol, Daniel, Ed, Kedley, Lloyd, Marc, Terrence, Jon, Ann, Henri, Sharon, Erin, Dante, Anthony, Marie-Anne, Martha, Nessa, Angela, Gweneth, Toni, Jordan, Gabriella, Cindi, Barbara, Andrew, Jeffrey, Theadeen, Latoya, Christine, Murdena, Aidee, Anthony, Mitch, Jacob, Roslyn, Collin, McKenna, Andy, Errol, Emman, Bill and Verna. Please send all prayer list requests for the bulletin to the Parish Administrator, Kathy McBride, at kmcbride@stjohns-stamford.org.
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To give to St. John's Episcopal Church, you can make your donations electronically or you can simply mail in your check to the church office if you would rather not use the online giving tool. Our Parish Administrator, Kathy McBride, is receiving doing the banking.
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Forward Day By Day is the Episcopal Church's own discipleship publication! As disciples, followers of Christ, daily prayer and reflection grounds us in God's love and gives us strength and clarity to confront our weaknesses, put our trust in God and listen to where God is calling us to serve. Available online for-free!
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